THE SHOP
MAY DAY
THE FILWOOD TIMES
FILWOOD ON BROADWAY
WRIT LARGE
HOARDINGS PROJECT
Our aim for the residency was always to create opportunities for the community around Filwood Broadway to take up space on the high street, through physical objects, performance & events. Our first block of Thursday workshops focussed on decoration - and we invited people to contribute to three giant banners to hang above the shop, and costumes and streamers to wear at a May Day procession.
We took inspiration from the local area with the banners’ colour palettes reflecting machinery from the constuction site, the red brick of the building, the concrete grey of the street, and the high viz and hazard tape that inevitably accompanies a street in a state of change. The banners themselves were constructed out of rolls of damp-proof membrane from the building site.
Participants (we worked with adults from KWMC’s ‘Creative Cuppa’ group, and with children at our after school drop-ins) each created their own smaller banner/flag which was then combined with others to make three lively mash-up mega banners.
Another week, strange costumes were constructed from reclaimed waterproof material, paint and a lot of small bells, and for the third week of the block we made a huge quantity of streamers to attach to bikes, scooters, buggies and bodies.
On the first of May we invited everyone to come for the unfurling of the banners, and to take part in creating a new ritual for the broadway. 38 revellers turned up, we donned our costumes and processed down the Broadway. We took part in a strange ritual on the green to welcome the summer to Knowle West, and finished by eating vegetarian chilli in the shop.
Reel by Ella Chedburn
Stewarding help from Martha King